A beautiful breeze woke us up for fajar this morning at 5:20am. Since it was still so early, I tried to go back to sleep but, the sweet warmth of the sun with a cool breeze just wouldn’t let me sleep. After talk with my mom and breakfast , I went for a walk at the Palmer’s Park right next to our apartment. It was nice a quiet with few morning walkers at the park. It was just a beautiful spring day in Chicago. The grasses couldn’t be greener. The blades were so thin, shiny, and high uprooting towards the source of its energy. In between the grasses bloomed yellow dandelions through out the fields. It almost reminded me of back home fields full of mustard flowers. It was just breathtaking and so serene and soothing to the mind and body. The birds were flying from branch to branch and flower to flower to feed on. The squirrels (the are much thinner than UH squirrels) were sniffing and snickering away searching for their morning meal. All I could say is Subhanallah, as I enjoyed my walk. I think moving up north to the Midwest and experiencing bitter winters you start appreciating the rebirth of life around you in Spring and summer much more than living in the South. Right when I was about to cross the street to come home came trails of 2-3 year olds from the daycare near by with ropes around their waist following their teachers almost like a ducklings following the mother duck. They were so adorable and I thought that was an ingenious safety measure. You should have seen the kiddos when they got to the playground, they were running around everywhere full of giggles and laughs, Mashallah.

Since I get pooped a bit more than usual now I had to stop to take a rest. So, during that time I decided to read the book I had just picked up from the library called Reclaiming Our Health (Exploding the Medical Myth and Embracing the Source of True Healing) by John Robbins. Its a really good read so far I would highly recommend it for anyone living in the US and are so depended on the disease care system of ours that usually ends up cheating you in your health care with or without insurance. I ran into such alternative methods during my internship at UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s, Place of Wellness. Part of my research were on such methods and the services they provided were alternative medicine with regular treatment.

Nonetheless, I just had to share such a beautiful morning with everyone else. As one of the passerby said, “Have a Blessed DAY!” I hope all of you have a fabulous morning like me!

As’salamualikum

Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) when he asked, “Is anyone of you unable to earn a thousand good deeds?” One of those present asked: “How can one earn thousand good deeds in a day?” He (PBUH) replied, “By saying: Subhan Allah a hundred times, then one thousand good deeds will be recorded for him or one thousand sins will be blotted out from his record.”
[Muslim].

Allah hears the supplication and knows those who deserve help and triumph.

While reading this it made me reflect on the recent catastrophic cyclone that Bangladesh was hit with. Subhanallah that is one of the worst cyclones that has hit Bangladesh in the last three or four decades if not longer. We’ve had our share of natural disasters. It was so painful for me to watch ten children who were sitting around and crying and saying how their parents are dead, uncle/aunts are dead, and grandparents are dead. Practically the entire family of these children have been wiped out. There aren’t any fresh water to drink, no food, dead bodies everywhere, no shelter…I can’t even imagine. One lady was crying and saying how her husband died on his way to the market and how there’s no food and wishes she was dead instead of him. But, every trial that we are afflicted with is a favor from Allah. Its a way for us to expiate our sins and to tests us to see if we really do believe in Him. What do you do when everything you know, everything that gives meaning in your life is wiped out? Do you give up on your faith and denounce everything? Say, the hell with life, I don’t wanna live anymore?Obviously, no! That’s when we hold on to our deen, clench to it with all our might, our strength, with our teeth, and supplicate to Allah to make it easy. Ultimately, we are slaves of Allah and our purpose in life is to Worship Him Alone, Subhana Watala.Its like a surgeon losses his hands, a mother losses her daughter, old man becomes blind, a rich person becomes poor… Everything that gives meaning to ‘our lives’ in the worldly sense is gone!

BUT, WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING…we rebuild…We Don’t GIVE UP!!! When life brings you to your knees, your are in the best position to pray. Put your tawakkul (trust) in Allah that he’ll help you make it through.

May Allah make it easy on all of us to go through any tests that befalls us and make it easy for the Muslims in Bangladesh to come closer to Him, Subhana WAtala. Ameen